HAM Radio test information.

NOW MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO START STUDYING!! You will not be able to pass if you just show up on the morning of the exam without having done some studying. This one is guaranteed. Absolutely. I’m not kidding here. I can even give you references of those who have tried. You do get the same license with a passing score of 75% as you would if you scored 100%, but it still takes a little effort to get the 75%.

The cost for the exam will be $4.00. Please bring cash (exact change would be nice – no large bills, please) and a government issued photo ID to the exam. A photo copy of you existing ham license if you have one is needed also.

The least expensive way to study is online at www.qrz.com. Look for “Practice Tests” on the left of the page, then take the one marked “Technician.” You will be told whether each guess is right or wrong.  If you are wrong, use the back arrow on the web page of the following question to go back and try again until you find the right answer. The test will also be scored as you go. If you take the test over and over, you will see different questions, but the questions (and the right answers) will start to look familiar. We have had a number of CERT people take and pass the exam using only this self-study method. When you can take the exam on-line and score a consistent 70% or better, you will be ready to take the real test.

If you prefer a written study guide, the one most often recommended is Technician Class by Gordon West, which is available at: Jun’s Radio (aka Commline), 5563 Sepulveda in Culver City. Jun’s also has the ARRL study guides and other written materials that might help you study for the test.

There is also an iPhone app called "Amateur Radio Exam Prep Free: Technician" that does what www.qrz.com does. I checked it out, and for free you can't go wrong. Besides giving instant feedback, it lets you know which category of question you might be having trouble answering so that you can concentrate on that. 

I have now heard from two users that http://www.hamtestonline.com/does what both the book and www.qrz.com do. Right now http://www.hamtestonline.com/ has a "special discount" to $20.00 to allow you to study for the Technician Class exam. HamTestOnline.com figures that it will take about 10 hours of study to be ready to take the exam.

IF YOU ALREADY HAVE YOUR TECHNICIAN CLASS LICENSE: We will not only be having an exam for Technician class, we will offer both the General Class and Extra Class tests as well. You can take either or both or all 3 for the same $4.00 fee. This exam is open to the general public, and everyone is invited to be there.

Studying for the advanced licenses is the same as for the Technician. The Gordon West books are probably the best written study guides, and are available at Jun’s on Sepulveda. www.qrz.com also offers on-line practice exams that you can use to study and gauge your progress. The  iPhone apps for the General and Extra exams are now available for free as well.

If you are interested in more high frequency voice band access than the sliver that the FCC allows to Technicians on 10 meters, you might want to start studying now and show up for the exam.

Good Luck on the exam! If you have any questions, please email me.  

Bob Pine
K6RMP
CCARES Director
Culver City CERT Communications Manager
(310) 753-3481 ccares@ccares.net